Search Engine Strategies, San Jose 2004
In order to ensure that we keep up with the latest trends in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and other Search Engine Marketing (SEM) techniques, Instant Position has sent Dave Carberry, VP and Chris Boggs, our new Search Engine Strategist, to the Search Engine Strategies (SES) Conference 2004 in San Jose, California. The conference is a major draw for the top experts in the fields of SEO and SEM, and there are over 3000 attendees from all over the world. Many large non-SEM organizations have also sent representatives in order to network and learn more about the industry. Instant Position is hosting a booth and introducing the SEODoc to the industry. Chris will be attending a variety of seminars and panels in order to ensure that Instant Position and G3 Group continues to provide its clients with the most up-to-date industry information. Chris will provide daily updates of conference events, beginning with a brief from the session that he attended Monday after arriving in San Jose.
Danny Sullivan, Editor of SearchEngineWatch.com, is widely regarded as the foremost expert in SEO and SEM techniques. Monday, he hosted a seminar titled: Search detours: Beyond Top 10. Leaders from four of the major search providers, Google, AOL, Yahoo, and AskJeeves, provided glimpses of their latest improvements, all geared towards making searching the Internet a better overall experience for users. The common thread within all the represented companies was an effort to increase the likelihood of searchers finding what they wanted near the top of the particular keyword results. Each of the four companies discussed the idea of providing "shortcuts" or "detours" within the top results that would directly link searchers to the most relevant information.
AOL has added many images (over 1.5 Million) to its database in order to provide a more "human" look to the search results for a particular query. For example, if someone were to search the terms "Elvis," an actual image of Elvis Presley appears next to the top results. AskJeeves provides a new "Smart Search" at its Ask.com website that provides structured data geared towards a positive search results, as well as a similar image feature next to the top results. Google discussed the addition of more "detours," found at its site in the form of tabs. Current tabs include the "Froogle" shopping search, and Image searches. On the way are "Google Groups," which will provide a platform for users to discuss particular questions or topics of interest in a forum-style. Also forthcoming is "Google Local," a search geared towards searches within a particular Zip code. Yahoo is also enhancing its searchers' experiences in a similar fashion.
There will be many more enhancements to search engines as more and more people become comfortable in using the Internet to find a variety of products and services. Instant Position will continue to provide its clients with the latest methods of ensuring that their websites remain near the top of the listings. As this week progresses, other important topics will be discussed at the conference, and Chris and Dave will continue to provide timely reports regarding these forums and panels.
